Spiritual Art Blog - *Ed P

She was her mother’s mother!

Picture: Detail from Outside the Box

Thought for the week- I was talking with a friend, Mary, a while ago about past lives. She told me she reckons she was her mother’s mother. That’s right, she has worked out she is her own grandmother.

Her grandmother died at a young age and Mary’s mother had to look after the house and her brothers and sisters. She took on the household duties of cooking, cleaning and caring for the family.

The fact that Mary was still single and without a partner, as she reached her 40’s, was a concern to her. Having reflected on her situation she realised that because she is single she has the freedom to take care of her parents and aunts whenever she wishes. Without this freedom she wouldn’t be able to fulfil her ‘motherly’ instincts to care for her ‘children’ from her previous life.

The time she spent reflecting and contemplating on her life has helped her get insights into her destiny. Spending some quiet time with yourself can bring a lot of insights into your life. I’m sure I would have a lot less peace and happiness in my life if I neglected my spiritual exercises.

Inspirational Quote:

" . . . no one can lead a happy life, or even one that is bearable, without the pursuit of wisdom, and that the perfection of wisdom is what makes the happy life, although even the beginnings of wisdom make life bearable. Yet this conviction, clear as it is, needs to be strengthened and given deeper roots through daily reflection; making noble resolutions is not as important as keeping the resolutions you have made already." Seneca

Love the ones you’re with

Picture: This is how the Island Sanctuary is developing. What do you thnk?

Thought for the week- “If you can't be with the ones you love, love the ones you're with.” That's a corruption of the words from a song by Crosby Stills Nash and Young. There's a lot of wisdom in it.

Have you ever found you're wishing you were somewhere else other than the place you are at the moment? It's a waste of energy. I often find it hard to divert my attention to the present moment or the people around when I'm thinking about being elsewhere. The people around me may not be the one I want to be with but if I'm with them there must be a reason we are together.

We have something to learn or share with each other. Whether it’s a polite 'Hello' or some kind of assistance. We can help each other grow. This comes back to living in the here and now and going with the flow of life.

News

Art Auction Results The Art Auction was successful in raising over €4,000 which is double what the Peter Bradley Foundation hoped to raise. When the auctioneer was describing my piece, River of God, he suggested “You could take down the picture of the Blessed Virgin and put this up.” It sold at a reasonable price but I don’t think it will be replacing any holy pictures. There’s more on the auction here.

Inspirational Quote

“There is nourishment like bread that feeds one part of your life, Nourishment like light for another.

“There are many rules about restraint with the former, But only one rule for the latter, Never be satisfied.

“Eat and drink the soul substance as a wick does with the oil it soaks in. Give light to the company.”

Rumi

Why is the world is the way it is?

Picture: Ed P, Dore Sweeney and Redmond Buckley at the stand in the Mind Body Spirit fair. Dore kindly helped me dismantle the stand on Monday evening. Thanks, Dore.

Thought for the week- Have you ever stopped to wonder about the variety of people and things in the world around us? Have you ever had a conversation which could be summed up with this old Quaker saying "All the world is queer save me and thee; and sometimes I think thee is a little queer"? What is it that makes the world the way it is?

It’s probably true that others are having similar thoughts about us. So who is the least ‘queer’? In your world I’d say you are the most sensible person and I’m the most sensible in mine.

We are all unique. None of us have had the same path through life. We are individual and as such we have a distinct contribution to make to our world. If we can add something positive to the people, places and things around us we are adding to our world.

By contributing something to our world we help to shape it. We are one of the creators who are making the world what it is. So, the next time you are wondering why the world is the way it is, you may recognise a little bit that you added. Make sure it’s something that makes it a better place.

Mind Body Spirit Fair

The festival in the RDS, Dublin, was an enjoyable event. There were lots of interesting people and the usual array of about 150 stands with crystals, tarot readers, herbs, healing products, music, books and 3 artists.

The other two artists were Michelle Ward and Lorraine Sheridan. Michelle works in oils and in her own words “The hand that guides my healing life also guides the paintings I create.” She had some lovely pieces at the fair. Lots of blues with clouds and angels. Lorraine’s pictures are based around Feng Shui symbols and signs to bring positive energy into your live. Her web site is www.lila.ie

There were a lot of interesting people and I had many insightful conversations. The topics ranged from dreams, teaching spiritual art, ‘grounding’ my art using crystals, how to get your art onto TV shows, connecting with spirit and a lot more. It was very enlightening, entertaining and enjoyable.

The fact that I sold 5 pieces also helped make it worthwhile. It’s nice that the stand was almost paid for through the sales. There were also a number of other potential sales in the near future from visitors to the stand.

So, for me it was a very pleasant St. Patrick’s weekend. If you called to the stand, Thank You, you helped make it a gratifying experience.

Not so Inspirational Quotes

The video below was posted on Alison Stanfield’s blog last week. It’s from a TV show in the States where they ask the public a question. They then add animation to the interview sound track. The question asked was “What is art?” It’s worth a watch, there’s some very funny stuff in it.

If you’re an artist I’d recommend Alison’s blog and web site. She gives some excellent advice on marketing your art and I’d recommend her new book ‘I’d rather be in the studio’. It’s got lots of good advice on selling your art.

Inspirational Quote

“Therefore, I say, there are three working factors in the philosophy of God’s Truth. First, the prime mover and life giver, is the Spirit or Word, or Sound Current; second is the Mind; and third, Matter of which the body and senses as the instruments of action, are made.”
Paul Twitchell, Stranger by the River.

Art Auction A-comin’

There’s an Art Auction in the Expose Yourself Gallery next Thursday 13th March in aid of the Peter Bradley Foundation. The Foundation looks after people who have acquired brain damage. I think that means if you get a bang on the head which damages your brain the Foundation have ways of looking after you so you live a pleasant and fulfilling life.

It seems like a worthy cause so I donated a large framed River of God (below) print to the auction. I believe there is a very entertaining auctioneer going to do the business on the night. It should be a bit of craic where you can pick up some nice art and help a good cause as well. See you there.

Write down your problems

Thought for the week-
Have you ever been in a situation where you feel like you’re in a corner surrounded by problems? Here’s an idea I’ve used a number of times and have found it very useful for getting myself out of such a situation.

Take some time to write a letter. Write it to your inner guide or Jesus, Muhammad, the Dali Lama or who ever you look up to on a spiritual basis. Write how ever you feel, what ever you feel. Put down all the situations, difficulties and problems. Add details and explanations to clarify things if necessary.

Now put it away and let your higher power take it from there. By doing this I’ve found that my general situation begins to become clearer and not as hopeless as I first thought. The action of writing the difficulties down gets them into some kind of order so you have a better over view of them They are now separated and I can now see little things I can do to sort of the problems out.

This is not a miracle cure but I have found it great help in bringing me out a swirling river of problems onto a little place of refuge. From that point I have often found a path to safer ground. Hope this works for you too.

News:

Now that River Sanctuary is finished I’ve put it in the Spiritual Art Gallery on the web site here. There’s some background info about the picture there which you may find interesting.

Mind Body Spirit Festival
I still have a few passes available for the Mind Body Spirit Festival next weekend (Paddy’s Weekend) if you are interested just let me know by putting a note in the comments section of this post. The entrance price is probably €7 to €10 but with these passes you get in free.

Inspirational Quote:

In a short conversation with Milarepa he said “Everything is one, everything is God, we are all one, we can but love everything and thereby love God. You show your gratitude and love by living your life to the full.”

Light in your contemplation

Picture
The art of living spiritually. That’s the title of the seminar I created this piece for and now it’s the title of this piece. I tried to illustrate growth as we progress towards the light. We become more illuminated as we grow.

Thought for the week-
While we are on the subject of seminars, I was at one titled ‘Exploring the Spiritual Frontier’ presented by Eckankar in the UK, over the weekend. It was very enjoyable with lots of good talks and insights from the speakers. One of the speakers, Phil Morimitsu, gave an excellent demonstration of what to do when you see the light during your contemplation or meditation.

He had made a large sheet out of black plastic bags. Through a hole in the centre of this vast blackness he shone a torch light. “This is something like what you might see as you sit with your eyes closed” he said. It’s true, I’ve often seen little lights or glows during contemplation. He went on to say something like “The idea of this light is not just to sit there and observe it but to go towards it or somehow bring it closer to you.”

Phil then went behind the black sheet of plastic and explained “We are on this side of the blackness and the light seems to be blinding but if we go to the light we discover that it is bright because where we are viewing it from is so dark. When we get to the light we enter a whole new enlightened world.” Then from behind the black sheet he broke through the little black hole and entered into a “new enlightened world” leaving the darkness, the black plastic sheet, behind.

It was a very practical demonstration of what can be a difficult concept to convey. So now you know what to do the next time you see the light in your contemplation or meditation exercises.

Mind Body Spirit Festival

News:
I’ll be exhibiting at the 16th Irish Mind Body Spirit International Festival in the RDS in Dublin over Paddy’s weekend, 15th to 17th March, 2008. There are a number of speakers including Paddy McMahon, Chrissie Astell, Dr. Donn Brennan, Emma Tamplin and Wa Na Nee Che. From the blurb I’ve read they will cover the subjects; Exploring Consciousness, Working with Angels, Ayuraveda, Spiritual Life Coach and North American Indian spirituality.

10 tickets to give away.
As an exhibitor I’ve received some tickets which give free admission to the Mind Body Spirit festival. So if you are interested in coming along add a note in the comments section or on the web site or email me. I’ve only 10 to give away so the first 10 to ask will get them.

Inspirational Quote:

“Render a love song every morning,
Sing with the crickets in the evening,
Then go to sleep, expect sweet dreaming.

“The white Light of God lights the way,
The piercing Sound of God leads the way;
How could a pilgrim-soul go astray?”

Gabriel Ezutah, Pebbles of Sound.